Mon., July 23, 2012 3:42pm (EDT)

Court Upholds Gun Ruling

By Associate Press

Updated: 10 months ago

ATLANTA  —   A federal appeals court has upheld a federal district court decision dismissing a lawsuit that claimed Georgia's law banning guns in churches and other places of worship violates constitutional rights to freedom of religion and bearing arms.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday published a decision affirming the lower court's dismissal of the suit.

The lawsuit was filed by a gun rights organization — GeorgiaCarry.org — and the Rev. Jonathan Wilkins of the Baptist Tabernacle of Thomaston. It challenged a 2010 change in Georgia law that banned people from carrying weapons into houses of worship.

John Monroe, a lawyer for Georgia Carry, said Monday the plaintiffs hadn't decided whether to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.